Ross Chastain enters the Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway positioned well enough in the Playoff standings to expect a spot in the second round after Saturday night’s cutoff event. The No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet driver sits 11th among the 16 Playoff competitors, holding a 19-point advantage over 13th-place contender Austin Dillon, with only the top 12 moving forward in the championship chase.
Despite his standing, Chastain admits the Bristol track has been a challenging learning curve, having finished 35th or worse in half of his 10 starts at the short, high-banked course known for intense action.
Performance History and Recent Results at Bristol
Chastain’s history at Bristol includes no wins and no laps led, yet his recent form is encouraging. Two of his three career top-10 finishes at this venue have come in his previous two races, including a career-best sixth place in the 2022 fall contest. Since winning the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte in May, he has achieved six finishes of 11th or better, showing steady progress.
Chastain expressed both determination and caution regarding the upcoming race, noting the risks involved on this demanding track.
“I think it puts us in a spot where we are fast enough to stay above the cut line, but a failure or an error, it’s easy to hit the wall here,”
he said.
“They’ve painted them (the walls) back to their old all-black. They’re waiting on you if you make a mistake, so we’ve got 500 laps to get through.”
—Ross Chastain, driver
Chastain’s Relationship with Bristol and Future Ambitions
Despite past difficulties, Chastain maintains a strong connection to the Bristol circuit.
“I love the track, and I love driving up here,”
he stated.
“I love driving on it, even when I’ve been slow and was really bummed. … I don’t know if it’s coming together or not, but Phil Surgen (crew chief) has been giving me good race cars here, and we need that next step to put us really in contention to try to win.”
—Ross Chastain, driver
He sees a clear path forward, emphasizing the progress made so far.
“We’ve taken the step to get to the top 10, and we want to keep that going and take the next one.”
—Ross Chastain, driver
Looking Ahead: What This Means for Chastain’s Playoff Run
With the Playoff cutoff looming, Chastain’s position at Bristol remains promising but vulnerable. His improvements at this track reflect his growth and the strategic direction of his team under crew chief Phil Surgen. Success at Bristol could not only secure his advancement but also represent a crucial breakthrough on a track that has long challenged him.
Continuing to build on recent top-10 finishes, Chastain aims to elevate his performance further, using Bristol as a springboard in his Playoff quest. The race will test his ability to balance speed and caution over 500 laps, pushing him closer to a potential first victory or at least a playoff survival milestone at this demanding Speedway.
